Packaging apparatus



S. W. TAYLOR.

PACKAGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. ms.

1,434,415, Patented Nov. 7, 1922.;

4 SHEETSSHEEI 1- S. W.. TAYLOR.

PACKAGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION men FEB- 9. 191a.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922.,

4 SHEEIS-SHEE'I 2.

S. W. TAYLOR.

PACKAGING APPARATUS- APPLICATION FILED FEB-9,1918.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

1,434,415 F/gfd 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

III L dirt! .rtla

I i befits.

S. W. TAYLOR.

PACKAGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 191B.

1,434,,4 l 5, Patented Nov. 7, 1921 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

STATES PATE SAMUEL W. TAYLOR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGN'OR TO THE CROWN CORK AND SEAL COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPO- RATION OF MARYLAND.

PACKAGING APPARATUS.

A'oplieation filed February 9. 1918. Serial No. 216,365.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL WV. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packaging Apparatus, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in packaging apparatus.

It is the rincipal object of the invention to provide packaging apparatus having means for rapidly and effectively feeding bottles to the capping mechanism and delivering them therefrom.

With the above general object in view and others which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description,

the invention consists in the features, de-

tails of construction and combination of parts which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the inven- 5 tion, and then more particularly pointed out.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view with parts in side elevation of packaging apparatus embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View showing the bottle feeding and delivery mechanism from above.

Figure 3 is a view of the same in side eleration.

Figures 4: and 5 are cross-sectional views taken on the lines H and 5-5, respectively, of Fig. 3.

Figure (3 is an enlarged view showing partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section the compensating mechanism.

Figure 7 is a view of the same on two different horizontal sections.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing the compensating mechanism in a different position.

Figure 9 is a view in horizontal section through the capping mechanisms.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1, and

Figure 11 is a detail face view of a portion of the compensating mechanism,

The apparatus shown in the present embodiment comprises. generally, a rotatingcapping table having a plurality of vertically movable bottle supports, a plurality of capping mechanisms having an orbital movement with the table, and conveying means for feeding and delivering the bottles.

As here illustrated, the apparatus is supported by a base 11 to which is secured a stationary column 12. Rotating about this column is a capping table upon which the bottles are supported while being capped. This table includes a vertically stationary portion or cage 13 which has a running fit on the column 12, the lower end bein supported by a thrust bearing 14 and t e top rotating on a collar 15 which serves to prevent any vertical movement of the cage. To rotate the capping tab-1e, the cage 13 has'secured to a bottom flange 16 a worm wheel 17 meshing with a worm 18 on a shaft 19 journaled in a bearing bracket 20 and in abearing carried by the base 11. Associated with the shaft 19 is a clutch of a well-known type including a sliding cone 22 operated by levem 23 and 24 fulcrumed on brackets 20 and 25, these levers being connected by a bar 26 and operated by a handle 27. Power is derived from a pulley 28 connected with a suitable power source. When the clutch is thrown in the pulley drives shaft 19 and so causes rotation of the capping table about the column 12.

The apparatus here illustrated, as an example, is of the type in which the bottles to be capped are alternately raised to and lowered from relatively stationary capping mechanism. There is provided means whereby the bottles are raised to the cap ping mechanism and lowered therefrom during, the rotation of the capping table. Although capable of various constructions, in that shown, the cage 13 carries a plurality of vertically sliding, bottle-supporting cylinders 29. Each cylinder is provided at the top with a bottle seat or pad and an arcuate guide 30 forming a bottle receiving pocket. To elevate the-cylinders, a cam track 31 is provided which has a symmetrical rise and fall and over which run rollers 32 journaled on cross shafts 33 carried by the lower end of the cylinders. This cam track is so designed, that as the cage rotates, each bottle supporting cylinder is raised a given amount to place the bottle 34 carried thereby in position for capping and lowered againto permit delivery of the capped bottle and reception of another uncapped one. To positively lower the cylinders 29 as the rollers leave the elevated portion of the cam, the cylinders are provided with projecting lugs 35 on which are journaled rollers 36 running on the under side of the cam track 31.

To protect the lower part of the machine, it is enclosed by a casing '37 which may be provided with a door and to prevent broken glass, crowns and the like from collecting in the top of the cage 13, a guard 38 is provided. To prevent cylinders 28 from rotating on their own axes, each cylinder is arranged to slide on a feather 39 carried by the cage.

The invention includes means for conveying bottles up to and away from the capping table, and in structures embodying the invention to the best advantage, a single conveyor is provided, moving past the capping table, in a direction tangential thereto. Although capable of various constructions, in the present embodiment, supported by an intermediate stationary table 40, isa frame 41 which carries a conveyor in the form of an endless belt 42 running over wearing strips 43 and driven by a sprocket 44. The belt at the end opposite the driving sprocket, runs over a pulley 45, and sagging is prevented by a small idler 46. To drive the sprocket 44, rotating as a unit therewith is a sprocket 47, driven by a chain 48, which is driven, in turn, by a sprocket 49 on a shaft 50 journaled in bearings provided by the lower part of the frame 41. Mounted on the shaft 50 is a bevel gear 51 meshing with a similar gear 52 fixed on a shaft 53 carrying a pinion 54 meshing with a large ring gear 55 carried by the cage 13.. Thus, rotation of the cage 13 drives the shaft 50, and, through the latter, the conveyor belt.

The bottles being fed are maintained in a proper path on the conveyor by means of side guides 56, 57 and 58, guide 56 extending the entire length of the conveyor on the side opposite the capping table. Guide 57 is located opposite guide 56 along the bottle feeding end of the conveyor and guide 58 is in the same relation along the delivery end. as appears in Fig. 2. 4

As shown in the present exemplification, these guides are adjustable for bottles of different sizes. i. e., quarts, pints and the like. To this end, each guide is provided with a plurality of studs 59 mounted in clamping brackets 60. By shifting the position of the studs in their brackets the guides are moved toward or away from each other. thus providing a narrower or wider path for the bott es.

Apparatus embodying the invention includes means for deflecting bottles from the conveyor toward the capping table. As shown, secured to the table 40 and extending out over the conveyor is a deflecting guide 160 which causes the advancing bottles to be deflected from the conveyor to the stationary table 40 which serves as a transfer table between the conveyor andthe rotating capping table. This table 40 has one side parallel to the conveyor, the other side being curved to conform to the capping table. As the bottles leave the conveyor, a complementary guide 61 carried by the side guide 57 serves to keep the bottles in a proper path.

The invention includes means for giving the bottles being fed a positive impulse, and in structures embodying the invention to the best advantage, a pusher is provided which operates in synchronism with the succession of the bottle receiving pockets of the capping table. While the construction of this pusher may be varied, in the form shown, it comprises a double fish-tailed finger 62, designed to extend into the path of the bottles and to be operated so as to push the bottles forward on its advance stroke and to slide over any bottles which may be encountered on its return stroke. To this end, the double finger 62 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 63 connected, as hereinafter described, with a reciprocating operating bar 64 reciprocating in bearing brackets 65 carried by the frame 41. The pusher fingers pass through slots in the side guide 56 to extend into the path of the bottles on the conveyor and they are normally held in this position by a spring 66 secured to a cross arm 67 on the pusher and to a pin 68 on bracket 63.

Means is provided for limiting this extension of the pusher into the path of the bot ties and for adjusting this limit to accommodate the pusher to the size of bottles be-.

ing conveyed. As shown, the upper finger of the pusher has a plurality of small holes 69, in one of which is placed a stop pin 70 arranged to strike the side frame 56 and thus limit the amount to which the pusher extends over the conveyor. By shifting this pin from one hole to another, the extent to which spring 66 pulls the pusher into the path of the bottles is regulated, as desired.

Means is provided for reciprocating the operating bar 64 to operate the pusher, and in structures embodying the invention to the best advantage the stroke of the bar is adjustable to accommodate the pushers cycle of operation to different sized bottles. In the exemplification illustrated, pivoted to a bracket 71 which is locked to the bar 64 is a connecting rod 72 connected by means of a crank pin 73 with a slotted crank disk 74 which is keyed to the shaft 50. The stroke of the connecting rod may be adjusted by sliding the bracket which may be released for this purpose, along the operating bar. and shifting the position of the crank pin in the slot of the crank disk 74.

There is provided means for causing the V-shaped block 77 which normally seats in a V-shaped recess in the sloping side of the bracket 75. As long as the resistance encountered by the pusher is not suflicient to overcome the force of the spring and the frictional contact of the two \/,s, the bracket 7 5 and the pusher and bracket 63 move together. Should, however, the pusher encounter an excess resistance the V-shaped block will be forced out of its recess and the bracket 63 will consequently not move with the operating bar which merely slides through it. As the bar makes its return stroke, the V-shaped block will slide over the sloping side of the bracket 75 and again seat in its recess, so that the pusher will operate on the next stroke provided the excess resistance has been removed.

To prevent the pusher supporting bracket 63 from being displaced from its proper position during the above described operation, an adjustable stop is provided in the form of a pin 7 8 in threaded relation with one of the clamping brackets 60, and this stop is set so that the bracket 63 will just miss striking it during the normal operation of the pusher. Should the pusher remain inoperative as above described, it' cannot be displaced by the return stroke of bracket 75 and the oper ating bar, as any tendency toward a backward movement brings it against the stop pin 78.

1e cage portion of the capping table, the bogtksupporting cylinders when in their receiving position and the stationary transfertable are all on the same level. Bottles being fed as above described-are pushed one by one across the transfer table onto the rotating capping table. As before stated, the capping table is provided with a number of bottle receiving pockets. Bottles are prevented from entering the spaces between these pockets by a stepped up portion 79 of the cage 13, as will be apparent from Fig. 2.

Each bottle, then, being pushed onto the rotating capping table is taken by one of the pocket-guides 30 and carried forward with the table. As the guides 30 are relatively low in comparison with the bottle, there is a tendency for a bottle to be tilted over backwards when engaged by the guide. There is provided means for maintaining the bottles upright, and in structures embodying the invention to the best advantage, there is provision for applying a counteracting force to the bottles near the top thereof. Although capable of various constructions, in that shown, pivoted to the deflecting guide 160 is a curved gate 79 held by a spring 80 against the bottles on an adjustable stop in the form of a threaded pin 81. As will be apparent from the drawings, this gate is so positioned that it forms a yieldable backing for the bottles as they are engaged by the guides 30 and thus prevents them from being tipped over and maintains them in an upright position.

Means is provided for centering the bottles in the bottle receiving pockets. In the present embodiment, pivoted to an arm 82 bolted to the stationary table is a convex wiper 83 located just beyond the point at which bottles enter the capping table, so that the bottles are brought in contact with the rising curve of the wiper and are thus moved into the embrace of the guides 30. This wiper is yieldably held against the bottles by a spring 84 secured to guide member 61 and its movement in this direction is limited by an adjustable stop in the form of a threaded pin '85. In order that the centering wiper 83 may be adjusted relatively to the pockets, the arm 82 has a slotted connection with its securing bolt and may thus be shifted laterally.

Means is provided for steadying the centered bottles. To this end, in the form here shown, there is located ust beyond centering wiper 83 a steadying wiper in the form of a flat bar 86 pivoted at 87 on the wiper 83. This steadying wiper is yieldably held against the bottles by a spring 88, its movement being limited by an adjustable stop pin 89.

The apparatus illustrated includes capping mechanism and the drawings show a plurality of capping heads equal in number to the bottle supporting cylinders. These capping heads move about a common center with the capping table but they are relatively stationary with respect to the table, except for purposes of adjustment. In the form shown, secured to the cage 13 by a flange 90 is a hollow column 91 made with a running fit at the top and bottom on the column 12. Carried by this column 91 is a cylindrical cage 92 fitting on the column to rotate therewith and vertically adjustable to accommodate the capping mechanism to bottles of different size, as, for example, quarts and pints. To this end, the column 91 has a threaded portion and theeage 92 is adjustably held in position by a nut 93 in threaded relation with the column 91 and having a grooved portion fitting over a flange 94: on the bottom of the cage 92. In order to cause the cage 92 to rotate with the column 91 a feather 95 is provided upon which the cage slides whenever vertical adjustment is made. Secured to the cage 92 is a tubular housing 96, made in one piece, or in a plurality of connected parts as may be desired, which forms the several capping heads and carries the associated capping mechanism.

Associated with each capping head is a tubular plunger 97 slidable in upper and lower bearings 98, 99 formed by the housing 96. Each plunger, at its lower end, is shouldered, as appears in Figs. 6. and 8, to support a shouldered nut 102 threaded to receive a throat carrier 103 having a bell or throat ring 105. Enclosed within each plunger or sleeve 97 is a spring pressed knock-out plunger 122 having a sliding bearing in a sleeve 123 formed on a nut 124 threaded into the top of the bearing member 98. This nut has a socket 125 for the reception of spring 126 and the spring pressure may be adjusted by means of the nut.

Each throat carrier is cut away, as shown, for example, at 106, Fig. 6, to accommodate the end of a crown feeding chute 107 secured, by a thumb nut 108, to a hopper 109, for the caps. This hopper is secured to a flanged bracket 110 fitting over the top of column 12, its flange 111 bearing against thrust washers 112 on the cage 92. Associated with the hopper is a hopper shaft 113 for driving the crown selecting mechanism represented at 114. This may be of any suitable construction for feeding the crowns properly faced to the chute, such, for example, as that shown in the Painter and Hawkins Patent No. 643,973.

The hopper shaft 113 is driven by a gear 115 mounted thereon and meshing with a similar gear 116 on a stud 117 carried by the bracket 110. Also mounted on this stud is a bevel gear 118 meshing with a bevel gear member 119 secured to and rotating with the cage 92. Bracket 110 is prevented from rising off column 112 by a nut 120 threaded into gear member 119 to engage,

the bracket flange 111. The bracket is held from rotating with the cage 92 by a key 121.

With the construction described, when cage 92 is vertically moved to adjust the device to different sized bottles, all the parts carried by the cage and bracket 110 also make vertical movement without interfering with the subsequent rotational movements.

As each capping head moves past the feeding chute, the open face of the throat carrier allows a crown from the chute to move into the crown platform ready for the Capping operation which is hereinafter described.

lVIeans is provided for preventing the flow of caps from the chute except at such times as a throat carrier is in receiving position. Although capable of various constructions, in the form shown, extending out from each side of the throat carrier, are wings 104 so designed that the left wing of one head approximately meets the right wing of the neighboring head, and so curved as to present a circular stop ring to the chute, unbroken except by the throat carrier passageways. This stop ring rotating past the chute prevents the exit of any caps except when a throat carrier is in receiving position.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, as the machine is operated, the I which operates substantially immediately upon the predetermined point being passed. Although variable within a wide range, in structures embodying the invention to the best advantage, the capping throat is normally a stationary unit with the capping head but is movable relatively thereto so as to give way when excess pressure is encountered.

Although capable of various constructions, in the present embodiment a coil spring 130 (Figs. 6 and 8) embraces a plunger 131 sliding in a guide member 132 which is carried by the housing 96, and which has a socket which forms a seat for one end of the spring. The other end of the spring seats against a shoulder of a knob or foot 133 formed on the plunger 131. Between this spring-pressed plunger 131 and the throat-carrying sleeve is the mechanism for transferring the spring pressure to the capping throat to normally cause the latter to remain a stationary unit with the capping head. Although variable within a wide range, in structures embodying the invention to the best advantage, this mechanism includes a lever acted on by the spring and mechanism associated with the capping throat for transferring the force of the spring to the capping throat and so designed that the leverage exerted rapidly dimishes upon application of excess pressure. Althougl'l capable of various constructions, in that illustrated there is a lever 134 having a rounded end and pivoted to the housing, as at 135. In the particular construction shown, the lever does not engage the plunger 131 directly, but instead the end of the lever bears against the oblique bottom of a sliding member 136, the horizontal top of which engages the plunger, this member serving to strengthen the spring. In 0perative association with the lever is a link nae Mia 137, the end of which is pivoted in a socket formed in a-plate 138 which is secured to the sleeve-like plunger 97. llhis link has a knobbed or rounded end 139 which is enga ed by the lever.

1 cans is provided for holding the link 137 in contact with the lever 134, and in structures embodying the invention to the best advantage, this is accomplished by a cam member designed toact as a stop to prevent the link from falling away from contact with the lever as the device operates. Although capable of various constructions, in the present embodiment, pivoted to the housing 96, as at 140, is a segmental cam member 141, the upper curved face of which is provided with a groove serving as a seat for the knobbed end of the link. This cam member is so designed that, as the parts move, it swings on its pivot and holds the link against the lever. F ig. 6 illustrates the position of the parts preparatory to the rise of a bottle to the capping head. The capping throat and its sleeve-like plunger are in their lowermost position, being held thereto by the spring 130 through the intermediation of the mechanism described. When a bottle is raised to the capping head, contact is made with the throat ring and the continued relative movement causes pressure to be exerted between the bottle and the capping head. While the cap is being pressed into the throat ring 105, plunger 122, resting on the cap, is forced upwards and builds up pressure through the compression of the spring 126. The corrugated flange or skirt of the cap is compressed around the bottle mouth b the rin of the capping throat, the latter being held against relative movement by the force of the spring 130, which is designed to hold the parts in this position as long as the predetermined capping pressure is not exceeded. It will be seen that, due to the construction described, the leverage exerted on lever 134 by link 137 is, in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 6, very great, so that only a comparatively small spring is required to exert sutficient pressure on the capping throat to properly seal a bottle. When the predetermined capping pressure is exceeded, as in the case of an extra long hottle, the pressure on the capping throat overcomes the force of spring 130 and causes the same to be depressed, thus allowing the throat ring to give way and relieve the pressure on the bottle. During such operation the throat-carrying sleeve 97, under the pressure exerted thereon, moves upward relatively to the capping head, thereby moving link 137 upward against the lever which is thus caused to swing on its pivot, its end wiping against the sliding member 136 to raise plunger 131 and depress the spring. During this movement the cam member swings on its pivot and holds the link in contact with the lever, as appears in Fig. 8,

and it is noted that the relative position of the parts changes in such manner that the leverage exerted by the lever through the link to the capping throat, rapidly decreases. Due to this construction, the spring pressure is rapidly overcome once this opposing excess pressure is started, and the release of the pressure by the capping throat on the bottle is substantially immediate.

As the bottle-supporting cylinder descends, the parts return to their normal po- Means is provided for adjusting the nor-.

mal or capping pressure. Although this may be done by various constructions, in the presentembodiment the guide member 132, which serves as a seat for the spring 130, is in the form of a screw-threaded nut threaded through the top of the housing 96 and by movement of this nut, the force of the spring is strengthened or weakened as desired.

In case any one of the capping mechanisms is temporarily out of order, it is desirable that no bottle be fed to that particular capping head. To prevent this, at the same time al owing the machine as a whole to operate, means is provided for blocking off any given pocket on the capping table, thereby preventing a bottle from being presented to for that stroke, as above described. As soon as the blocked off pocket has passed, the operation continues as before.

Means is provided for directing capped bottles from the capping table to theconveyor. As shown in the present embodiment, extending over the capping table (Fig; 2) is a deflecting guide member 146 which, in the present instance, is a unitary structure with guide 160. As the capping table rotates, the capped bottles are deflected. by this guide 146 onto the intermediate stationary table 40, and the succession of bottles pushes the preceding ones onto the conveyor. To aid in keeping the bottles in their proper path, the said guide 58 has an inturned portion 147. The bottles thus received by the conveyor are carried away from the capping table toward a. delivery table 148 located at the end of the conveyor, and from this delivery table they may be removed as desired.

Should a number of bottles collect at the entrance to delivery table 148, it might happen that the succeeding bottles would not be able to push them out of the way and a -jam might result. Means is provided for giving the bottles being delivered a positive impulse, and in structures embodying the invention to the best advantage, a pusher is provided which operates in synchronism with the succession of bottles delivered. Although capable of various constructions, in that shown a. pusher 149 is provided which is identical in structure wlth the feeding pusher. 62, except that it is secured to the operating bar 64. Each stroke of the bar 64, therefore, causes one stroke of the pusher 149. As the operating bar is reciprocated in synchronism with the succession of bottlereceiving pockets, there is delivered one stroke of the pusher for each bottle delivered to the conveyor.

Although the operation of the machine as a whole will be clear from the above description, it is briefly as follows: Bottles are placed as desired on the conveyor which carries them toward the capping table and they are deflected onto the table 40 by the guide 160. Feeding is aided by the pusher 62 which gives the bottles a positive impulse along their path. The bottle supporting cylinders, when opposite the feeding point, are

in their lowered position, and the pocket of each cylinder receives a bottle as it' passes the feeding point, The yieldable gate 79 prevents the bottles from being tipped over as they are engaged by the pockets. The bottles are centered in the pockets by the Wiper 83 and steadied by the wiper 86. As each bottle-supporting cylinder passes the bottle-receiving point, its roller 32 starts to ride up the cam track 31 and the bottle is thereby raised toward the corresponding capping mechanism. As each capping head passes the crown feed chute, a properly faced crown slides into the throat and rests on the crown platform. Plunger122 is held in its normal position by a collar 150 which engages a corresponding shoulder on the sleeve-like plunger 97, this position of the plunger just permitting a crown to slide into place on the platform. Elevated by its cylinder, the bottle-head enters the bell mouth of the throat carrier and engages the wait-- .be presented compensation takes place, as

above described. During any movement of the sleeve-like plunger 97, a flat surface formed thereon (Fig. 8) slides on a pin 151,

which tends to prevent rotation of the member 97 on its own axis. As the cylinder roller 32 reaches the peak of the cam, the capping operation is completed. The roller then rides down the cam, roller 36 causing a positive lowering ofthe cylinder. As thesupporting cylinder withdraws, the bottle is prevented from sticking in the throat by the plunger 122, which serves as a-knock-out, and the parts gradually return to normal position. During the continued rotation of the table, the supporting cylinder is again lowered to the level of the stationary table 40 and thecapped bottle is brought into engagement with the guide 146 which deflects it onto the table 40. Successive bottles push their predecessors onto the conveyor, which carries them to the delivery table, any amming being prevented by pusher 149.

Although the terms crown and bottle have been used throughout, it is to be understood that they are used in their broad sense to include any cap, and receptacle to which the apparatus described is suitable.

What is claimed is: 1. In packaging apparatus, the combination with a rotary capping table having a plurality of bottle receiving pockets associated therewith, of a conveyor for carrying bottles up to said capping table, means for deflecting bottles from said conveyor, a pusher forpushing the bottles toward the capping table, means for normally operating said pusher synchronously with the advance of successive pockets, 2. device for association with a pocket to prevent the reception of a bottle therein, and means whereby the pusher is rendered inoperative for a period corresponding to the advance of such pocket. p

2. In packaging apparatus, and in combination a rotary capping table, a conveyor for carrying bottles up to the capping table, guides for keeping the bottles in a given path, means for deflecting bottles from the conveyor, a reciprocating pusher for ushing the bottles toward the capping ta le, 9.

3. In packaging apparatus, and in combination a rotary capping table having associated therewith a plurality of guides forming bottle receiving pockets, said guides being relatively low with respect to the height of the bottles, means for feeding bottles to the capping table, and means for preventing the bottles being tipped over by the impact of said guides as the bottles are fed to the capping table.

' 4:. In packaging apparatus, and in combination a rotary capping-table having associated therewith a plurality of guides forming bottle-receiving pockets, said guides being relatively low with respect to the height of the bottle, means for feeding bottles to the capping table, and a yieldable gate for hearing against the back of the bottles to prevent the bottles from being tipped over by the impact of said guides.

5. In packaging apparatus, the combination with a rotary capping table, of a conveyor for carrying bottles up to the capping table, means for deflecting bottles from the conveyor, a reciprocating pusher for pushing the bottles toward the capping table, and means for adjusting the stroke of said pusher.

6. In packaging-apparatus, the combinationwith a rotary capping table, of a conveyor for carrying bottles up to the capping table, means for deflecting bottles from the conveyor, a reciprocating operating bar, a bracket loosely mounted on said bar, a pusher mounted on said bracket for pushing the bottles toward the capping table, a spring secured to said bracket, a member 1 I carried by said spring having frictional co tact with a portion of said bar, thereby to cause said bracket to normally move with said bar but to permit said bracket to remain stationary upon the pusher encountering excess resistance.

7. In packaging apparatus, the combination with a rotary capping table, of a conveyor for carrying bottles up to the capping table, means for deflecting bottles from the conveyor, a reciprocating operating bar, a bracket loosely mounted on said bar, a pusher mounted on said bracket for pushing the bottles toward the capping table, a spring secured to said bracket, a member carried by said spring having frictional contact with a portion of said bar, thereby to cause said bracket to normally move with said bar but to permit said bracket to remain stationary upon the pusher encountering excess resistance, and an adjustable stop for preventing backward displacement of said bracket.

8. In packaging apparatus, the combination with a rotary capping table having a plurality of bottle receiving pockets associated therewith, of a conveyor for carrying bottles up to said cappingtable, a yieldable pusher for pushing the bottles toward said capping table, and a device for association with a pocket to prevent reception of a bottle therein.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

SAMUEL W. TAYLOR. WVitness:

EDGAR T. DORNAN. 

